January 11, 2011 > City, Fire Union Reach Agreement City, Fire Union Reach Agreement Submitted By City of Fremont After several months of negotiations, the City of Fremont and Fremont's International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Local 1689 have reached an agreement that makes this bargaining unit the seventh out of eight to agree to a reduction in pay. This agreement calls for a 2 percent reduction in pay through June 30, 2011, which is the end of the City's fiscal year, and the use of furlough hours by fire personnel. This salary reduction will allow the City to end the weekend fire station brownouts throughout Fremont from March 1 through June 2011. Last month's furloughs, agreed to by all City non-safety employees and public safety management employees, were voluntary pay reductions. The City remains optimistic that it can reach an agreement with the Fremont Police Association, comprised of sworn officers and sergeants, to realize equivalent budget savings for the remaining fiscal year. "As the City continues to address our budget shortfall, we are appreciative of the concessions made by our employees," said Fred Diaz, City Manager. "We are cutting costs wherever possible to ride out this economic downturn." All eight of the City's Memorandums of Understanding, commonly referred to as collective bargaining agreements or MOU's, will expire on June 30, 2011, with new contract negotiations beginning in early spring.